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Was judge right to send John Goodman home for the holidays?

This time, polo club founder John Goodman’s malfunction defense worked.

A judge has decided that John Goodman did not tamper with his ankle monitor. (Post file photos)

During Goodman’s trial for DUI manslaughter, defense attorneys argued that a malfunction in Goodman’s Bentley caused the crash that killed 23-year-old Scott Wilson. The jury didn’t buy it, and Goodman got 26 years.

Palm Beach County Circuit Court Judge Jeffrey Colbath, however, allowed Goodman to be on house arrest while he appeals. Goodman must pay $2,000 a day for two sheriff’s deputies to watch him. That started in June. Also watching him is an ankle monitor.

In October, the monitor became cracked and inoperable. If Judge Colbath had determined that Goodman broke the monitor, Goodman would have to be held in jail.

Until this week, all the evidence seemed to show that Goodman had tampered with the monitor. Deputies said it doesn’t just come apart. At this week’s hearing, though, one of the deputies who had been guarding him said Goodman damaged the monitor accidentally, perhaps getting out of the shower.

The deputy also pretty much claimed that the woman who prosecuted Goodman tried to suppress the deputy’s corroborating testimony.

Judge Colbath returned Goodman to house arrest, which not long ago had seemed unlikely.

What do you think? Was Judge Colbath right to send John Goodman home for the holidays? Take our poll and/or leave a comment.